If you regularly use Kansas Expressway to travel to and from north Springfield, brace yourself for a summer of discontent. A construction project that starts April 13 is expected to cause "'round the clock lane closings and traffic congestion" until it finishes in September.

The work, which includes replacing pavement between Chestnut Expressway and Mount Vernon Street, will reduce Kansas to one lane in each direction for the summer. Construction crews will be removing and replacing the pavement on the expressway, as well as rebuilding right- and left-turn lanes, curbs and gutters.

The $2.4 million project is a partnership between the Missouri Department of Transportation and the City of Springfield. Hartman & Co., Inc. of Springfield is the contractor.

A news release from MoDOT on Monday didn't try to sugar-coat the effect on commuters.

"By reducing the number of open lanes, traffic congestion can be expected especially during morning and afternoon rush hours," the release said, adding in bold: "Drivers are urged to find alternate routes, if possible."

The release notes that weather and other construction delays could alter the schedule for completion. Other obstacles for drivers to watch out for include:

• Weekend closures of connecting side streets such as College and Walnut streets while intersections are rebuilt

• Closure of one of the westbound Chestnut Expressway-to-southbound Kansas Expressway turn-lanes

• Intermittent closure of right- and left-turn lanes on Kansas.

For more information, go online to http://www.modot.org/southwest/. While there, you can sign up for email or text updates on the project by clicking on the button at the top of the page.